Sunday, April 29, 2012

Jimmy Choux and regular rider Jonathan Riddell pictured in their Gr. 1 NZB
Insurance Spring Classic victory at Hastings last October. Outstanding galloper Jimmy Choux has run his
last race and will be retired to stud. One of the best young kiwi racehorses in
recent years. Goodbye Jimmy...
Co-owner-breeder Richard Wood confirmed that decision to www.theinformant.co.nz from Sydney
today, conceding that the rising five-year-old is racing well below his best and
has his mind on “other things”.
Jimmy Choux ran what could be arguably described as the worst race of his
career when fading to last after receiving a cosy trip in yesterday’s Gr. 1
Queen Elizabeth Stakes at Randwick. Even allowing for the quality of the field,
his effort was lengths below what he would be capable of at his best.
“There’s something going on that’s just not keeping his mind on the job, so
we’ve made the decision to retire him,” said Wood. “There’s nothing physically
wrong with him, his blood’s perfect and he’s pulled up fine, it’s just that he’s
wanting to do other things.
“We would have loved to have another crack at the Cox Plate and try and go
one better than last year but you’ve got to be realistic, it’s just not meant to
be.
“The fact that he’s a rising five-year-old stallion tells us that his future
is at stud, so he’s gone for a couple of weeks’ holiday up in the Hunter Valley
and we’ll take it from there.”
Wood added that at this stage nothing firm had been decided as to where the
son of Thorn Park would take up stud duties. “We’ve had contact from some people
in New Zealand and have also been talking to people over here, but nothing’s
been finalised,” he said. “You can’t take anything away from him though and I’m
sure he’ll find the right opportunity. How many stallions are there at stud who
have won give Group Ones?
“He’s given us a fantastic experience and it’s been a lot of fun.”
Trained throughout his career in his home province of Hawke’s Bay by John
Bary, Jimmy Choux retires as the reigning New Zealand Horse of the Year with a
career total of 12 wins from 26 starts and stakes of $3,626,763. Peak
performances besides his Cox Plate second were wins in the Gr. 1 Rosehill
Guineas, Telecom New Zealand Derby, New Zealand Bloodstock Insurance Spring
Classic, New Zealand 2,000 Guineas and Windsor Park Platehttp://www.theinformant.co.nz/racing/WA5169/Jimmy-Choux-retired

With
Richie McCaw, AB's skipper
"Capped"
Sir Fred, who at age 92 was the oldest living All Black, had been battling
ill health for some time and was in full-time care on the Whangaparoa Peninsula.
He passed away at 3.30am on Saturday morning.
Despite illness, Sir Fred tried to remain as active as ever in recent times.
Earlier this week he unveiled a bridge on Sir Fred All Walk of Honour at
Auckland Memorial Park, Silverdale.
Both his late wife, Norma, and son, Murray, are buried at Auckland Memorial
Park.
Sir Fred, who was born in Oamaru in 1920, was one of the great servants of
New Zealand rugby.
He is among the rare group of players to have both played in and coached the
All Blacks.
The star first-five played 21 matches for the All Blacks, including six
tests, between 1946-49.
He signalled his retirement from test rugby by throwing his rugby boots into
the sea while on the All Blacks' return from their disappointing 1949 tour to
South Africa.
He would have debuted for the All Blacks earlier in life had it not been for
the outbreak of World War II in 1939.
Prior to making the All Blacks, he was one of the star players of the
legendary New Zealand Defence Force's Kiwis rugby team which toured Europe in
the months following the end of WWII.
The side also included his great mate and fellow future All Black sensation,
Bob Scott.
Read more: http://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/6823098/All-Black-legend-Sir-Fred-Allen-dies-aged-92

Wednesday, April 25, 2012

Canterbury Crusaders and All Blacks skipper, Richie McCaw will be back on the
field on Saturday, after six months off with a severe foot injury that he
carried through most of last season and the successful Rugby World Cup. The
inspirational captain originally fractured his foot which failed to heal and
subsequent surgery was necessary to enable him to get back on the rugby field.
In recent times Richie was able to finish his doctorate in Agriculture that he
started over a decade ago as an eighteen year old. So now its Captain Dr Richie
McCaw.http://www.nzherald.co.nz/sport/news/article.cfm?c_id=4&objectid=10801531

Monday, April 23, 2012

GALLIPOLI TURKEY - APRIL 25: ANZAC Day is marked during a Dawn Service at the Anzac Commemorative Site on April 25, 2011 in Gallipoli, Turkey. Thousands of Australian and New Zealanders attended the dawn ANZAC Day ceremony marking the 96th anniversary of the ill-fated 1915 World War I landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). ANZAC Day is observed as a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand with ceremonies of remembrance for those who fought and died in all wars. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

The Australian 4th Battalion lands at the Gallipoli Peninsula on 25 April 1915. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

GALLIPOLI TURKEY - APRIL 25: ANZAC Day is marked during a Dawn Service at the Anzac Commemorative Site on April 25, 2011 in Gallipoli, Turkey. Thousands of Australian and New Zealanders attended the dawn ANZAC Day ceremony marking the 96th anniversary of the ill-fated 1915 World War I landing of the Australian and New Zealand Army Corps (ANZAC). ANZAC Day is observed as a national day of remembrance in Australia and New Zealand with ceremonies of remembrance for those who fought and died in all wars. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

It is Anzac Day April 25 in both New Zealand and Australia tomorrow. A majority of people will be united in remembering the sacrifices made by our servicemen and women in all wars, and the service to their country by our RSA and RSL members. Up and down and across both countries in urban and rural communities - cities, towns, villages and hamlets, thousands of people of all ages will turn out for dawn parades services at war memorials later in the morning. We will remember them!

JOCK ANDERSON: 'I've got nothing to apologise
for.' A foolish journalist! Over the top comments.

The military historian whose book Jock Anderson was discussing when he
labelled Australian soldiers as bludgers, scavengers and thieves says it's "mind
boggling" the journalist came to that conclusion.
In fact, Graham Wilson wonders whether the veteran journalist has even read
his book.
"It's his take not mine," the Australian author told Newstalk ZB this
morning.
"For Mr Anderson to come out and paint the entire Australian Imperial Force
... over 330,000 men as bludgers, poachers, vagabonds, thieves, it's mind
boggling," Wilson said.
Anderson's comments have sparked outrage, both here and across the ditch.
New Zealand Returned and Services Association national chief executive Dr
Stephen Clarke said the organisation was "deeply disappointed by the
historically inaccurate and disrespectful comments" and Prime Minister John Key
said they were "offensive".
Veteran soldiers in Australia have also slammed Anderson's comments. "These
are comments made by people who should know better," Australia's RSL state
president Jock Statton said.
Anderson made the comments last week on a Radio New Zealand show hosted by
Jim Mora.
"The Aussies have been reluctant soldiers at the best of times. They've been
essentially lazy, bludgers, some of them, and excellent black marketeers,
scavengers, poachers and thieves," he said on the radio show.
"Occasionally they've actually been quite good soldiers, but there is no way,
in my opinion, that they can hold a candle to the Kiwis."
Wilson said the Australian soldiers were not as good as their British and New
Zealand counterparts until about 1916 when they were the "equal of anyone on the
west front".
He said two Australian commanders established a training base in Egypt after
being dissatisfied with the level of training for soldiers. He said they were
generally not bludgers or thieves, but there were "bad characters" in every
army.
"They were in the NZDF (New Zealand Defence Force) as well, as they were in
the British, South African and Canadian forces.
"There were some guys there who were not prepared to do their bit, there were
guys who had criminal records, who spent the entire war committing criminal and
civil offences, but that's only a small proportion."
Andy Macdonald, a published New Zealand military historian based in London,
said he had interviewed 10 World War 1 veterans who fought at Gallipoli, the
Somme and Passchendaele.

None had raised issues about Australian discipline.
Anderson needed statistics to back his "crude" allegations, Macdonald said.
"I personally think the comments that have been made lack subtlety and lack
knowledge," he said.
"You can't just compare one country with another on such crude terms,
frankly. For heaven's sake these guys were fighting for their lives, and that
applies to Australians, New Zealanders, Canadians and Britons."

Over the top in my opinion. There were ratbags in every outfit. Aussies have always been known as rascals. But Kiwi soldiers have not always been blameless, either. But when it got down to the business of fighting the enemy, Anzac soldiers got stuck in with a lot of enthusiasm.There reputation as fighting man will not be denigrated by a foolish journalist as Jock Anderson.

Saturday, April 21, 2012

STRATFORD-UPON-AVON, ENGLAND - JUNE 27: A view of Anne Hathaway's Cottage where William Shakespeare courted his future bride Anne Hathaway on June 27, 2011 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Stratford-Upon-Avon, the birthplace of William Shakespeare and the home to The Royal Shakespeare Company, continues to be one of the favourite destinations for tourists in Britain. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Wednesday, April 18, 2012

AUCKLAND, NEW ZEALAND - MARCH 30: Minister of Corrections Judith Collins opens the new Mt Eden Corrections Facility on March 30, 2011 in Auckland, New Zealand. The new multi-storey prison replaces the 120-year old Mt. Eden Prison and cost the government more than NZD200 million to build. Its design and construction faced harsh criticism last year because of its prime Auckland city and harbour-view location and its architectural design. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Labour Party MP Andrew Little says he has responded to threats of legal action from ACC MinisterJudith Collins, saying he will not be apologising and the issue is a political one.
Ms Collins is planning to take legal action against Mr Little, another Labour MPTrevor Mallard and Radio New Zealand over comments about who leaked details of ACC claimant Bronwyn Pullar to the media.
Andrew Little says he received a letter from Ms Collins's lawyer last week and has responded, saying he will not be offering to pay her legal costs.
He says it is his job as an opposition MP to hold ministers to account and is confident that he has not defamed Judith Collins.
Mr Mallard has also responded to Ms Collins, saying he will also not be offering an apology or covering her legal costs.Radio New Zealand says as with the first letter from Judith Collins, it has taken legal advice and has responded accordingly.

Monday, April 16, 2012

Christchurch Cathedral. Christchurch, New Zealand. (Photo credit: Wikipedia) As it was before earthquakes...

The
Anglican Church has chosen a radical vision for its new temporary Christchurch
cathedral.
It will be an unconventional design made out of cardboard tubes costing $5.3
million and will be big enough for a congregation of over 700 worshippers.
Church goers gathered today to hear the news of a replacement for the
Christchurch cathedral, near the southern end of Latimer Square.
The transitional cathedral will be made of 9mm cardboard tubes wrapped and
glued in Christchurch which will form the main part of the internal
structure.
Project manager Johnny McFarlane says the structure will be tested before it
is built.
“We will do testing on the strength and the deflection to see if it twists
and we will go through the permit process for using it for the structure life
which will be 50 years.”
It has been designed by Japanese architect Shigeru Ban and will be about the
same size as the nave of the old cathedral in the square where the congregation
sat during church services .
It will sit on the former St John's Latimer Square site, just metres from
where 115 perished in the February quake, Christchurch Anglican Bishop Victoria
Matthews says.
“It is across the road from CTV where so many people died and what better
place to put up a symbol of new life and eternal life.”
The cardboard cathedral will be waterproof and strong enough to withstand
earthquakes.
However the $1.3 million of the $5.3 million cost is still outstanding.
But Transitional Cathedral Group spokesman Richard Gray says it is not a
problem.
“We are confident that we have four million dollars of that and will
endeavour to raise the balance as quickly as possible”
The verdict on the design appears unanimous.
“Fantastic it's beautiful it's beautiful,” Cathedral verger Julie Andrews
says.
But Cathedral music director Brian Law is not sure what music will sound like
in it.
“I am intrigued by it… [But] as a musician my concern is… is it acoustically
suitable? But it looks ok.”
The first sod will be turned next week and then work will begin on the
cardboard Cathedral.
It will only take eight months to complete the and by then it will be ready
for Christmas church services at the end of the year.3 NewsNew Zealand
Read more: http://www.3news.co.nz/Cardboard-Christchurch-cathedral-costs-5m/tabid/423/articleID/250607/Default.aspx#ixzz1sCTrn4tO

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

SuperGold Card holders in the Hutt Valley should be worried by Transport Minister Steven Joyce’s plans to monitor the costs of free off-peak travel on public transport on a monthly basis, says Rimutaka MP Chris Hipkins.
“Mr Joyce has indicated that although the scheme is currently running within budget, he plans to ‘see what the numbers are each month’. This suggests a lack of commitment from Mr Joyce to this very successful and popular scheme,” Chris Hipkins said.
“Free off-peak travel for SuperGold card holders was set up and funded by the previous Labour government to give our senior citizens greater mobility and access to goods, services and social activities in their communities.
“The scheme has made a real difference to the lives of Hutt Valley seniors, giving them more freedom to make travel plans without having to take cost into account, and enabling them to maintain closer contact with family and friends.
“I receive positive feedback on this initiative whenever I visit rest homes and speak to older residents in Rimutaka, who constantly tell me how much they appreciate the free public transport and the greater freedom it allows,” said Chris Hipkins.
“Mr Joyce’s comments that he will be regularly monitoring the cost of the scheme provide little reassurance to Hutt Valley seniors that free off-peak travel is here to stay. Instead it seems the Government has no confidence in the scheme, and is willing to put it in jeopardy because of its overwhelming popularity.”
Chris Hipkins said that his concerns for the future of the scheme were further exacerbated by continued opposition to the initiative by ACT, the Government’s confidence and supply partner.
“Free off-peak travel has provided many benefits to Hutt Valley seniors. The Government must reassure our older residents that the scheme won’t be jeopardised simply because of its own success,” Chris Hipkins said

WELLINGTON, NEW ZEALAND - AUGUST 25: Minister for Agriculture, Biosecurity and Forestry David Carter speaks at a Wellington Young Farmers Industry Function at the West Plaza Hotel on August 25, 2011 in Wellington, New Zealand. Carter will be standing for the National Party for the electorate of Port Hills in the 2011 New Zealand General election, which will take place on November 26. (Image credit: Getty Images via @daylife)

Ruth Dyson |
The Government’s response to the possible extinction of the Maui’s dolphin will be under worldwide scrutiny, Labour’s Conservation spokesperson Ruth Dyson has warned.
“With only 55 Maui dolphins in existence we cannot - as a developed country - allow inaction to be the cause of their extinction.
“There’s a huge win/win opportunity for ministers Kate Wilkinson and David Carter here. Not only should we be doing everything possible to save the species, but we should also be leading the world by moving our fishing industry to sustainable fishing methods,” Ruth Dyson said.
“We know that consumers are become more discerning – wanting to know how and where food is made. We could market sustainably caught fish internationally to huge benefit to our economy.
“And the by-catch of sustainable fishing practices would be saving the dolphin, unlike the current method, which is killing them.”
Ms Dyson, who, in a written submission to MAF has called for a comprehensive monitoring programme to help protect the Maui’s dolphin and an extension to a proposed set net ban, says the government can no longer close its eyes to the issue.
“The world is looking on. The Ministers have, to date, appeared cowed and compliant.
“They must strengthen their resolve to do the best for both the dolphins and the fishing industry, as well as New Zealand’s international reputation,” Ruth Dyson said.
Submissions on the MAF consultation close at 4pm Wednesday 11 April 2012 with parallel consultation on a DOC proposal closing the following week.

Sunday, April 8, 2012

Our rising 17 year old grandson,Pride Petterson-Robati, contracted to the
Melbourne Storm NRL professional rugby league club in the Australian competition
for six years, from 15 years old, flew home to Wellington for a week this
afternoon.
He called in to our place in Lower Hutt,on the way home to his parents home
in Upper Hutt. He had three of his young sisters with him when he called.
Another sister is bussing back from the Hawkes Bay about 220 miles away tomorrow
to see and be with him. He hasn't been home since last July 2011 when the Storm
club rushed him back to be with his ill mother in hospital. She recovered
reasonably well. He stayed in NZ for three weeks.
The Storm pays his accomodation, and his schooling at one of the top schools
in Victoria - Hallem Senior College, a school specialising in rugby league and
Australian Rules, and other sports as well. He receives an allowance as
well.
He has just finished playing for the club's Under 18 side in the SG Ball
competition, and will be eligible for Under 20's when he turns 17 years in mid
June. His allowance will increase considerably as well.
He'll be home for a week. It is school holidays in Australia as well at the
present time. He studies Business Management and Accountancy at Hallem. All
young professional rugby league players have to study or train for "after
football. As I tell people, a player could also be one serious injury away from
football too. They have to have something to fall back on. I read about a young
player in his early 20's who has completed two years towards a doctor's degree.
He knows it may take him a few years to complete the degree, but he knows that
one way or another he will in time.
We look forward to bumping into Pride during the next week as he visits other
members of the family, relations and friends. No doubt he'll be seeing old team
mates from his Under 15 days - to them he is a hero and legend. He sends a
message to them. Play and learn hard and who knows, there might be a future for
them too!
I hope you all are having a great Easter with family and friends too. We are
proud of our Pride!